Vanism...the bestest kind

"Mommy...you da bestest mama."

To go from fishing in the toilet to this, is just a glimpse into the little wonder that is our Van.

photo by auntie anna in autnie kristi's backyard...love them

Phone Call from Preschool

So...due to past experiences that you (family and friends) are well aware of, I panic when I get a call from preschool...even more panic when they start the call with, "Well, we have an issue..."

...but relief upon hearing, simply, "Van stuck a bead up his nose and we can't get it out...can you come and take him to the doctor?"  Easy...right...easy compared to what we've heard from preschool.  Being the seasoned mom that I am (haha...channeling my logical half aka Brett)....I called the doctor to see what we need to do (before, I would have rushed to the ER with the fear of....anything really).  They said to plug his other nostril and blow into his mouth.  Felt weird to have this ability but it worked, two breaths, a tweezer, and a sucker later, the little fuzzy bead was out. 

When asked why he did it: cuz it was on the fwoor

Noodles....

STICK!!!

not our wall thankfully

Just in case you didn't know...they do!  Noodles stick to walls, cabinets, tables, and dogs...yes, dogs!  Van was thrilled to discover this amazing phenomenon at dinner tonight.  It was hilarious to watch the dogs try and get the noodles off of their backs and then resort to eating them off of each others' backs...even better was Van's reaction!  Best advice = don't do this unless you have dogs of two sizes...otherwise you have to clean it all up.

I know I will pay for this in a restaurant somewhere down the line but will make sure to remind myself of the smile that it brought...that's what childhood's all about right...

Cuteness...

Miranda rights for kiddos

Nighty-Night

Ugh...sad about having to go back to work but at the same time, thankful to have a career that allows me 3 months off during the summer.  When I go back to school, so does the Van man.  Made this little pillow out of a fabric remnant from the store and left-over cape material.  Hoping that Van knows he is in our hearts when he lays down during the day at nap-time.  Anxiety over his school experiences is high for me and this could be one little piece that reminds him how much we love him and all that goes with a spirited personality...no matter what!...and it's soft....

Our version of "The Wheels on the Bus"

They insulted Pink Floyd and were quite rude so Van made up this song and decided that I needed to talk to their mudders...

Stone Alphabet

With spare time (done with school, haven't gone back to work) we have been feeling crafty.  Also, with the paint and sewing machine that my mom is sharing with us we've been able to do a lot that I've wanted to do for awhile.

I saw this....Stone Alphabet by Wanda Ritner...and thought that it would be a great way for the little guy to become more interested in letters.  The tactile experience is great for him--he can rearrange the letters, hold them, feel them, pick them up, and eventually create words with them.  He is able to spell his name with them and recognizes about 6 letters which is great for a 3 year old (not ashamed to brag). So here is our set...not quite as fancy but serves the same purpose...

While we were at it, we made up this awesome paperweight for Brett...something every geologist needs on his desk right?

Long-lasting Birthday

My dear friend Lezlie knows what I love! She thoughtfully sent spice packets from this great shop, Old Town Spice Shop, for my birthday! 

We loved it and love her :)

New Pants for Van

made with four of the same legs (four front instead of two front and two back), crooked sewing, and a bit too much elastic but oh so cool!

Vanism...in record time

So, if you know our kid....you know why I went to the bedroom and let him be for 5 minutes...just 5 really...suddenly silence....so I yell, "Van, what are you doing?" He runs into the bedroom, completely naked of course and says, "I dipped my hands in it, in the water.....and I caught the poop....and now my hands are dirty." Laugh away because this is one of those moments where I just thought "not even 5 minutes...are you kidding me..."

More Cowbell

So this is what I think of when attaching a warning bell to my son...

...warning for his sake though. We have been loving being out and about in the Snowies and around Vedauwoo but being the prepared (or paranoid, depending on the way you look at it) mom that I am, I figured he needed his own cowbell! Not like this.....

....but like this! We put a mini cowbell ($2.00 at Bart's Fleamarket) on his Camelback.  Everywhere we wander we hear the gentle dingle dangle of this cowbell and are thankful for it. We would hate to wander up on another protective mama without warning her. 

 

Just check this out! PROOF that I'm not completely crazy...

Vanism

"I been putting new batteries in. In my lightning fwyin' shoes."  Um...so it's because of batteries? Hide them ;)

Driving home, we see a tractor in the field and from the backseat we hear yelling: Dat twactor is wuinin the corn! Get outta dare and don't break dat corn!

A Field Trip

Insects, magnifying glasses, sunshine, friends, running, sagebrush, cactus, bandanas, birds.......sleepy.

Super Easy Super Van Mask

Sadly, Van's last day of "sun school" came and went. We have loved this school for all of their patience, expertise, and encouragement and they couldn't have come along at a better time for our family.  Of course, we had to say good bye with a special gift for everyone.  So....knowing that I had felt left over from his Halloween gnome costume and dinosaur tails, no sewing machine, and little time, we made these masks up with hot glue and pinking shears (the pinking shears gave them a more finished/fancy look).  Simply cut strips (wider around the eyes), eye holes, and wings, glue wings on and tie in the back.  The kids and teachers loved them and we were able to easily share something that Van loves.